Frank Leiden, Beloved Jazz Figure, Passes Away at 93
Frank Leiden, who was instrumental in guiding the Jazz to their first NBA playoff appearance in 1984, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 93. His contributions helped lay the groundwork for the successful teams of the 1990s.
The cause of his death hasn’t been disclosed.
Leiden, a Brooklyn native, started as the general manager of the Jazz in 1979 and transitioned to head coach in 1981. He moved the team from New Orleans to Salt Lake City and embraced the local culture.
The Jazz expressed their condolences in a statement, saying, “Frank Layden had a lasting impact on the Jazz, Utah, and the NBA. There’s never going to be another person like him. Our thoughts are with his family as we mourn his loss and celebrate his remarkable life.”
He initially built his coaching resume at Niagara University, where he led the team to its first NCAA tournament in 1970. According to Simon Gray, vice president of athletics at Niagara, “Frank brought a unique ability to care for those around him, and I’m sure he held Niagara close to his heart every day since graduation.”
Leiden made his way to the professional level as an assistant coach with the Hawks in 1976, and by 1979, he took on the general manager role with the Jazz. One of his significant achievements was drafting legends Carl Malone and John Stockton, who became cornerstones of Utah basketball.
His most notable year might have been 1984, during which he led the Jazz to the playoffs, a significant milestone for the franchise at that time. Moreover, he earned the titles of NBA Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year that same year.
Leiden wrapped up his coaching career with a regular-season record of 277-294. He resigned from the head coach position in December 1988 but continued as team president and GM, paving the way for Jerry Sloan, who led the Jazz to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998.
In addition to his prominent role with the Jazz, Leiden also had a brief stint coaching the WNBA’s Utah Stars and later consulted for the Knicks when his son served as general manager.
